Thanks to its dual-vent system , you get the same fine-grained level of temperature control you’ll find in Weber’s full-size kettles. It has two magnetic vents which, when set to half open, allow the grill to stay at 250°F for an hour. I checked the grill every 20 minutes and was able to keep it at that temperature on less than a full chimney of charcoal. weber q The tiny Cuisinart CGG-180T Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill suffered major flare-ups when cooking burgers, and turned into a raging grease fire when cooking chicken pieces. Everything we cooked on this grill had a dark, sooty film and tasted like torched fat. Always use your grill—gas or charcoal—outside, in a well-ventilated spot.
The only part about using the Nomad that I didn’t love was emptying it. Because it needs to be emptied while completely open, it was hard to lift when attempting to dump the ash into a bin. On its website Nomad suggests using a shop vac to get all the spent charcoal out. I have no doubt that that would do the trick, but if you’re off on an adventure an hour from an electrical outlet, a shop vac might not be practical. That said, I’m hard pressed to imagine a better camping grill than this. The Nomad does cost more than anything else I tested, but it was unparalleled both in how it cooked and how easy it was to move.
Since the area of the basin exactly matches the surface area of the grill, we were then able to spread out those coals to create targeted heat zones. Once the grill is going, the Camp Chef Portable Pellet’s internal thermometer and the computer then take over to regulate the flow of pellets into the burner. This process keeps the grill temperature remarkably close to the chosen setting. If all this tech hasn’t impressed you yet, this model also has two digital meat thermometers so that you can watch temperatures in real time. With this grill, barring some sort of unexpected mishap, you will likely never overcook a tri-tip again. Our lone soldier pellet grill, the Camp Chef Portable Pellet, took a bit longer than expected to heat up.
An example of a built-in feature might be hooks for hanging grilling tools, keeping tongs and a spatula within easy reach. You can read more about how we evaluate portable grills in our Lab and consumer tests — plus everything you need to know to shop for your perfect grill — at the end of this guide. Check out our guide to best grilling accessories and how to clean your grill to get it ready for grilling.
The Cuisinart Portable Charcoal and Weber Go-Anywhere are very similar in terms of coal bed volume, but the Go-Anywhere scores much higher thanks to its cast iron construction. Our R&D department develops high-quality, fairly priced grilling equipment. I also took into account ease of assembly and how sturdy a grill felt once it was assembled . I also dug through verified purchase reviews to determine if any had any consistent or glaring wear-and-tear issues to be concerned about.
If you’re looking for a budget pick, go for the Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill, which is lightweight, sturdy, and offers a nice-sized cooking space. After you connect the propane and have checked for leaks, turn on the burner. Some grills, such as the Weber Q 2200, have electronic ignition, in which case you simply push the button to ignite the gas. For grills that lack this feature, you’ll need to use extra-long matches or a match holder to ignite the propane and get the burner started.
In our tests, this grill quickly cooked a steak and four chicken thighs, all of which were juicy and tender. You can probably find charcoal en route to your destination, while propane might take slightly longer to locate. Electric grills don’t require you to make space for a heavy bag of charcoal, but you’re not likely to find an electric outlet at the beach. You can easily grill up your favorite foods while camping using the Coleman Gas Camping Stove, which has a number of useful features. This grill uses TRU-Infrared technology to prevent flare-ups and provide even cooking every time.